Found this on findagrave.com:
HOLT'S FIRST SETTLER.
Death of Wm. Banks, Sr., the First White Settler of Holt County.
William Banks, senior, one of the first settlers of Holt county, died at his home near Curzon, on the evening of March 2d, 1895, at the age of 84 years. Deceased was born in the Isle of Man, and when but a boy he left his native home, and went to Liverpool, Eng., and shipped as a three years apprentice on a westward bound vessel. He first struck America at Mobile, Ala., but afterward returned to England. His next trip to America found him at Baltimore, Md., alter which he drifted about from one place and business to another, until 1830, at the age of 19, he went to New Orleans, and hired as a deckhand on a Mississippi steamboat. In 1831 he came to St Louis, and the next year went up the Missouri river on a steamboat as a deckhand to Yellowstone—this being the first steamboat that ever ascended the Missouri river to that point. He stopped on this trip and cut wood 3 ½ miles below where Forest City now stands, and nine years afterward, returned and settled upon the same spot, and entered the land. He claimed that next to Lewis and Clark, he was the first, white man that ever trod the soil of Holt county.
When first settling in Holt county, he engaged in the mercantile business with one McIntosh, as a partner, but the enterprise lost them money and they soon quit. In 1844 he put in a flat boat ferry at Iowa Point, and this made him some money. In 1856 he sold this ferry and wont into the timber and farming business, by which he made considerable money, and acquired about 1000 acres of land.
His will was written about fourteen years ago by E. VanBuskirk, Esq., of this city, and is witnessed by E. VanBuskirk and H. E. Harrison, of Mound City. His estate, it is estimated, will amount to some $20.000 to $25.000. The will was filed with Judge Alkire on Tuesday, and by its terms the home farm, together with all live stock, etc. thereon, as well as 160 acres of land in the bottom near Chesney's, goes to Catharine Galbraith, his niece, who has for so many years kept house for him. $3,000 bank stock in the Frazer & McDonald bank at Forest City, together with the money arising from the sale of 100 acres of land (subsequently sold it is said to Thomas Cottier) are created as a trust fund to be loaned at interest and cared for until the youngest child of William Banks Jr now born, or that may hereafter be born, shall become of age, when the same is then to be divided equally between said children. His real estate, except that part given Catharine Galbraith and the 160 acres directed to be sold, goes to William Banks. Jr., (the old gentleman's only child) for life, and then to the said William Banks, Jr's children in equal parts. There are, it is said 320 acres of this last devised land; and all taxes, repairs and improvements to be made thereon during all the years of the handling of this trust fund (which it is estimated may be anywhere from 40 to 60 years) are to be paid for out of the interest of the said trust fund --thus leaving to William Banks Jr., the use and benefits of all said 320 acres of land during his entire life time, without himself so much as being at the expense of paying the taxes on the land, building a fence or digging a well. The will also provides for making improvements on said lands out of the interest on said trust fund.
There seems to be no disposition made by the will of the balance and residue of the estate, such as money, notes, and the like—which we are told will amount to several thousand dollars. William Banks, Jr., it is suggested, will probably inherit this large sum, under the law.
Catharine Galbraith is made executrix of the will, with directions that she
shall not be required to give bond as such executrix.
The Holt County Sentinel, March 08, 1895, page 4